Efforts to curb rising road fatalities in Victoria promote Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre as a top ‘Pause Stop’ destination

By Taylah Baker

Jan 22, 2024

**Hit the brakes:** Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre is one of Victoria’s premium ‘Pause Stop’ locations. Pictured is volunteer Gary Macdonald with visitor experience co-ordinator Maree Glasson. Photo by Megan Fisher

With Victoria’s road fatalities at their highest in over 10 years, a new campaign is promoting safer travel.

The Transport Accident Commission and the Victoria Tourism Industry Council have set up 15 ‘Pause Stop’ locations at Visitor Information Centres across the state, including in Shepparton.

Ideally located within a two-hour drive from Melbourne’s northern suburbs and north-east Victoria destinations, the Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre provides everything travellers need to stop, revive and recover.

The centre at 530 Wyndham St has amenities such as a café, toilets, a children’s playground, lounge and seating areas (indoors and outdoors), and walking paths around Victoria Park Lake.

The visitor centre’s staff and volunteers have received training in TAC’s Pause Stop messaging and are well informed about travel options.

They can also provide pre-made itineraries to assist travellers in having a productive stopover in Shepparton and planning their next Pause Stop.

TAC head of road safety Samantha Cockfield said with more people travelling at this time of year, often with friends or family, and for more extended periods on unfamiliar roads, the TAC was urging people to plan ahead, stop along the way and prioritise safety.

In 2023, 296 people lost their lives on Victorian roads, the highest annual road toll in 15 years and a significant increase on the 241 road deaths recorded in 2022.

Each Pause Stop location provides visitors with a range of resources, including information on how to avoid drowsy driving, road trip activity books and Pause Stop passports to keep the kids entertained, and maps to help plan the next Pause Stop.

City of Greater Shepparton City Mayor Shane Sali encouraged travellers to take advantage of Pause Stops.

“The Pause Stop locations are a great opportunity to recharge and have a break from driving, and all the family can enjoy,” he said.

“This campaign is also a great opportunity for the visitor centre staff and volunteers to connect with potential visitors and inspire travellers to plan a future visit to Shepparton and Goulburn Valley.”

For more information on Pause Stop locations, visit www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/pausestop